Volume 6, Number 4
June 2003
Table of Contents
Editors' Comments (p 409)
Thomas C. Hunt, Ronald J. Nuzzi
Articles
The Mission of Catholic High Schools and Today’s Millennials: Three Suggestions
James L. Heft, SM & James D. Davidson
University of Dayton & Purdue University
(pp. 410-422)
A new generation of American Catholics, called the millennial generation, has emerged. This article examines how millennials think about their world, their Church, and their schools; discusses how and why their thinking will change as they mature; and offers research-based suggestions on how best to present the Catholic tradition to them.
Focus Section
The Character, Mission, and Future of Lutheran Higher Education
Mark R. Schwehn
Christ College, Valparaiso University
(pp. 423-437)
This article looks at the history of Lutheran higher education in the United States, discusses what Lutheran institutions of higher education must do to remain vital centers of learning, and examines questions that face American higher education in general.
Educating for Eternity: Higher Education and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints E. Vance Randall
Brigham Young University
(pp. 438-456)
The role and place of religion in institutions of higher education in America have largely disappeared except for institutions sponsored by religious organizations. Even here, questions are raised as to whether these religiously oriented colleges and universities can retain their religious identity in an increasingly secular society that is often hostile towards religion. The marginalization and even dismissal of religious worldviews in the public square make the survival of religious institutions of higher education even more critical in our efforts to educate the whole person. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraces the belief of a dualistic human nature. A holistic approach to education includes the spiritual with the secular, teaching and learning by faith and by reason. The Church sponsors four institutions of higher education: Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University—Hawaii, Brigham Young University—Idaho, and LDS Business College. The challenge for these four institutions of higher education with religious mission is how to integrate faith and knowledge, the sacred with the secular.
Seventh-day Adventism in the US: Committed to Higher Education
John Matthews
Andrews University
(pp. 457-479)
In this article, attention is given to the historical context in which the relationship between the “religious” and “educational” arms of the Seventh-Day Adventist church was forged; the commitment of Adventism to higher learning in the U.S. is explored; strategies for maintaining a distinctive purpose in Adventist educational institutions are assessed; and a select number of challenges currently facing Adventist institutions in North America are addressed.
Evangelical Higher Education: History, Mission, Identity, and Future
Gary K. House
Huntington College
(pp. 480-490)
Evangelical Christian colleges have has a unique role in the development of higher education in America and in producing Christian leadership for the world. These institutions have sought to educate and train leaders not only by transmitting knowledge and skills but also by attempting to instill moral character, integrity, and responsibility in their students. They have endeavored to educate according to Christian purposes, recognizing the value of integrating faith and learning. The evangelical Christian liberal arts college is especially adapted to create a context for educating the whole person. These institutions have a unique heritage, a clear purpose, a distinct identity, and a bright future.
The Meaning of the Mandatum: A Report on the Dialogue Between One Archdiocese and a Catholic University Faculty of Theology
James L. Heft, SM
University of Dayton
(pp. 491-497)
In response to John Paul II’s Apostolic constitution, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, the bishops proposed a number of requirements, which were approved by the Vatican. One of the requirements was that Catholic theologians teaching courses in Catholic theology request a mandatum from their local bishop. This article examines the mandatum and its impact on Catholic higher education in general and on one university in particular.
Review of Research
Some Background on Addressing the Topic of Homosexuality in Catholic Education
Michael J. Maher
Loyola University Chicago
(pp. 498-515)
The Catholic magisterium has made a distinction between homosexual orientation (disordered, but not sinful), homosexual activity (sinful, but judged “with prudence”), rights of gay and lesbian people, and the Church’s pastoral responsibilities to gay and lesbian people. Both the Vatican and the American bishops have clearly stated that the topic of homosexuality must be addressed in Catholic education, but the emphasis on how it is addressed differs between the Vatican (emphasis on finding causes and cures) and the American bishops (providing pastoral care and inclusion). Research indicated that some American Catholics may be very supportive of the rights of gay and lesbian people even if they disapprove of their sexual activity. It also appears that American Catholics are becoming more positive in their attitudes toward homosexuality over time. The Vatican has been directly confrontational with many gay and lesbian Catholic groups, expressing concern that they disregard the teaching against homosexual activity in the quest to meet pastoral needs. Some dioceses have begun to train their secondary school staffs on issues of homosexuality and to include the topic in the curriculum. On the other hand, gay and lesbian students at Catholic colleges, universities, and seminaries have a history of confrontation with Catholic educators.
Book Reviews
The Secularization of the Academy (pp. 516-524)
Edited by George M. Marsden & Bradley J. Longfield
The Soul of the American University: From Protestant Establishment to Established Nonbelief
By George M. Marsden
The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship
By George M. Marsden
Reviewed by James L. Heft, SM
Catholic Schools Still Make a Difference: Ten Years of Research 1991-2000 (pp. 524-526)
Edited by Thomas C. Hunt, Ellis A. Joseph, & Ronald J. Nuzzi
Reviewed by Anthony J. Dosen, CM
Teaching Service and Alternative Teacher Education: Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (pp. 527-529)
Edited by Michael Pressley
Reviewed by Timothy S. Valentine, SJ